Quinn: Ethics bill needed before building program

Ethics legislation needs to be approved before the Illinois General Assembly passes a statewide building program for roads and schools, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday.

Bernard Schoenburg

Ethics legislation needs to be approved before the Illinois General Assembly passes a statewide building program for roads and schools, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday.

“We can’t be giving out highway contracts and then having the governor the next day say, ‘Hey, how about contributing to my fundraiser?’” Quinn told reporters at the Statehouse. “That’s trouble with a capital T.”

Quinn also said Gov. Rod Blagojevich should disclose exactly what services his campaign has been buying from the Chicago law firm of Winston & Strawn.

Campaign reports filed this week brought billings by that firm, where former Gov. Jim Thompson works, to more than $2 million.

“This should not be some kind of mystery,” Quinn said. “This is not healthy.”

Quinn noted that the Illinois House unanimously passed an ethics measure, House Bill 1, but it hasn’t been called for a vote in the Senate. The bill would ban contractors paid more than $25,000 by the state from making contributions to the constitutional officers responsible for awarding those contracts.

Quinn said he agrees with the governor that a capital plan is needed, though he differs on specifics. But he said Thursday that, concerning so-called “pay-to-play” restrictions, “I don’t think there should be any kind of capital bill until that reform takes place.”

Quinn, who was at the Statehouse to promote tax-preparation help for low-income Illinoisans, also said he has not spoken with the governor in at least a couple of months.

“I don’t think he’s talked to too many people, other than his very close palace guard,” Quinn said.

Quinn said priorities he’d like to see in a plan for the new year are passage of the ethics proposal, tax relief for people living “paycheck to paycheck,” and a constitutional amendment to allow recall of top officials — a power he said he’s favored for 30 years.